Conservatives join with Reform for a budget of U-turns

After no agreement was reached at the initial meeting on February 5th, all councillors returned for a reserve date on February 17th. 

Liberal Democrats led an effort, with support from Green Party and Whitnash Residents’ councillors, to pass a budget resolution which would have invested £200,000 each year to tackle child poverty and neglect, £800,000 over four years to Children & Family Hubs and £14 million in capital investment to improve rural accessibility and climate resilience. Unfortunately, Reform and Conservative groups combined to block these proposals. 

Ultimately, Reform and the Conservatives decided to combine on a budget of u-turns. This proposal raises Council Tax and the social care precept by 4.44% (up from that 3.89% that Reform had twice failed to get agreed), and after much pressure from Liberal Democrat councillors they u-turned on proposed cuts to youth grants which support many local community organisations across the county, including https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/lillingtonyouthcentre 

Conservative and Reform councillors supported the budget, whilst Labour councillors abstained, refusing to oppose the plans. 

The budget as passed will see £4.2million in “service efficiencies” which have not yet been scoped, as well as cuts of £2.47million to Children & Family Centres. This budget also went against Council officer advice on Council Tax risking the long-term sustainability of the County Council and risking future council tax rises above the normal threshold, as has been seen in neighbouring Reform-run Worcestershire County Council in recent weeks. 

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse (below), Leader of the official opposition Liberal Democrat Group, said:  “In proposing our amendment Liberal Democrats stood for two clear things: investing in our children and young people and ensuring the financial stability of Warwickshire for the future. Reform and the Conservatives failed on both. 

“Our amendment would have supported children and young people from infancy, through Children & Family Hubs, through to adulthood by supporting those Not in Education, Employment or Training. Children and young people are our future and we want to invest in them early. 

“For the sake of 32p a week on a Band D property, Reform and the Conservatives risked the financial future of Warwickshire and we don’t have to look far to see the size of that risk. Just to our west in Worcestershire, Reform has asked for permission to increase their council tax by up to 10%, all because the previous Conservative administration failed to plan for the long-term. 

To watch Cllr Roodhouse give a post-meeting summary, visit

https://youtu.be/3xnnPlHohh0

To view the full Council meeting, which two of the Reform Cabinet members yet again didn't bother even to attend, visit https://warwickshire.public-i.tv/.../webcast.../1066898